ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -tall tale, narrative that depicts the wild adventures of extravagantly exaggerated folk heroes. The tall tale is essentially an oral form of entertainment; the audience appreciates the imaginative invention rather than the literal meaning of the tales.

Detailed explanation-2: -The tall tale has become a fundamental element of American folk literature. The tall tale’s origins are seen in the bragging contests that often occurred when the rough men of the American frontier gathered. The tales of legendary figures of the Old West, some listed below, owe much to the style of tall tales.

Detailed explanation-3: -Tall tales originated in the early 1800s, with the westward expansion following the adventures of men travelling to the Wild West. They are probably called “tall tales” because their characters are larger than life, although the origin of the term is uncertain.

Detailed explanation-4: -Tall tales are believed to have originated in the 1800s when frontiersmen in the United States would gather around the fire and tell stories, bragging about the adventures they have had. At the time, explorers were traveling to the Wild West and had many stories to tell about it.